Paint brush with bristle cartridge

ABSTRACT

A paint brush with a removable bristle packet. The bristle packet comprises one or more cartridges, each having a multitude of bristles permanently secured in a ferrule with an epoxy type adhesive. The bristles encircle a central void or reservoir area for holding paint. The ferrule of a single bristle cartridge may form a portion of the paint reservoir or the ferrules of two or more bristle cartridges may engage one another to form a portion of the reservoir. In addition, the bristle packet may include a bristle reservoir cartridge releaseably secured in the central reservoir area.

United States Patent [1 1 Saloutos Jan. 8, 1974 PAINT BRUSH WITH BRISTLE CARTRIDGE [22] Filed: Jan. 20, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 219,324

[52] US. Cl 15/202, 15/104.94, 15/176, 15/177, 15/248 [51] Int. Cl. A46b 11/00, A46b 3/08 [58] Field of Search 15/191, 192,193, 15/194,202,159,159 A, 176,248, 177,145, 143; 401/29 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2.490.159 12/1949 Ricchiuti 15/202 2,610,354 9/1952 Howellm. 15/145 x 782,580 2/1905 Reese 15/192 1,649,490 11/1927 Schalle 15/194 X 2,326,879 8/1943 Neuhausen 15/202 2,912,709 11/1959 Carlson et al 15/202 X 3,344,457 10/1967 Grobert 15/159 A FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,061,287 7/1959 Germany 15/160 374,813 6/1932 Great Britain 15/160 Primary Examiner-Peter Feldman Attorney-Joseph G. Werner et a1.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A paintbrush with a removable bristle packet. Thebristle packet comprises one or more cartridges, each having a multitude of bristles permanently secured in a ferrule with an epoxytype adhesive. The bristles encircle a'central void or reservoir area for holding paint. The ferrule of a single bristle cartridge may 1 form a portion of the paint reservoir or the ferrules of two or more bristlecartridges may engage one another 1 to form a portion of the reservoir. In addition, the bristle packet may include a bristle reservoir cartridge releaseably secured in the central reservoir area.

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FVGURE \3 PATENTED JAN 8 I974 SHEH 30? 3 FKvURE 8 v FIGURE 10 FIGURE n PAINT BRUSH WITH BRISTLE CARTRIDGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved paint brush construction with removable bristle cartridges.

Paint brushes with removable bristle assemblies have been known for some time as disclosed particularly in US. Pat. Nos. 3,340,597 and 2,509,013. However, none have provided a brush with bristle cartridges forming a central reservoir encircled by the bristles for holding and dispensing pair during use and to facilitate cleaning after use.

Paint brushes with paint reservoirs formed in the handle portions thereof are known as shown in US. Pat. Nos. 2,892,204 and 2,454,553. Such brushes are necessarily of such a complex construction that none is be lieved to have had any substantial commercial success.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Basically my invention comprises an improved paint brush construction having a replaceable bristle packet wherein the bristles thereof define a centrally disposed paint pocket or reservoir whereby the brush holds substantially more paint and dispenses that paint more readily than conventional brushes. My brush construction is much simpler than known brushes with paint reservoirs in their handles and the like.

In addition, the secured ends of the bristles, rather than being basically frictionally held in place by mechanically crimping a metal ferrule tightly therearound, are relatively loosely suspended in a molded plastic ferrule in which an epoxy type adhesive is poured and allowed to set for permanently adhering the bristles in said relatively loosely packed low density relation. Because this construction permits more space around individual bristles, it dispenses paint more readily to the painting surface than conventional brush constructions.

The bristle packet for my brush may be comprised of one or more bristle cartridges cooperating to form the central paint reservoir area. The multi-cartridge brush facilitates rapid and thorough cleaning of the bristles. In addition, a central cartridge with a substantially different type of bristle than the surrounding cartridges can be releaseably secured in the reservoir area to provide a uniquely versatile paint brush.

F urthe objects, features and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing several embodiments for exemplification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 comprises a front, side, and plan view of a generally U-shaped bristle cartridge.

FIG. 2 comprises a front, side and plan view of a second bristle cartridge. 7

FIG. 3 is a side view partially in section showing a composite bristle packet made up of a pair of bristle cartridges such as shown in FIG. 1 in combination with a central cartridge such as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 comprises a front, side and rear view of a paint brush handle section for my brush.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view, partially in section, showing a second form of composite bristle packet secured in the handle portion of a brush.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of bristle configura tion for central bristle cartridges.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a paint brush embodying my invention, with portions thereof broken away.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a second embodiment of a paint brush embodying my invention.

FIG. 9 is an isometric view showing the ferrule of the bristle cartridge in the paint brush of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 comprises a side, end and plane view of the ferrule of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an end view showing a pair of ferrules such as shown in FIG. 9 in engaged relation.

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of yet another ferrule configuration.

FIG. 13 is a vertical section view showing bristles adhered in the ferrule of FIG. 12 and the paint reservoir area.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows a bristle cartridge generally referred to by numeral 1. This cartridge is comprised of a plastic ferrule 2 which is generally U-shaped in plan and a multitude of bristles 3 which are secured in the ferrule by an epoxy type adhesive 4. The ferrule has an aperture 5 extending therethrough for mounting the cartridge as described more fully hereinafter in connection with FIGS. 4, 5 and 7.

FIG. 2 shows a second bristle cartridge generally referred to by numeral 6. Cartridge 6 comprises a plastic ferrule 7 which is generally rectangular in plan and a multitude of bristles 8 secured in the ferrule by an epoxy type adhesive 9. Ferrule 7 also has an aperture 10 extending therethrough for mounting the cartridge.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 7, it will be seen that in one form a composite bristle packet such as shown at 11 may be made up of a pair of outer bristle cartridges 1 and a central bristle cartridge 6. The outer U- shaped ferrules 2 of cartridges 1 engage one another to form a rectangular opening therebetween. This opening may form a central paint reservoir area together with the surrounding bristles, or as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the paint reservoir area may be substantially occupied by a bristle cartridge 6.

The composite bristle packet is adapted to be mounted in the ferrule receptacle portion 12 of a pair of paint brush handle sections, such as shown at 13 in FIG. 4, which are releaseably secured together by a pair of screw assemblies 14 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. An inwardly extending flange 15 is engaged over the shoulder portions 16 of the ferrules 2 and the top screw assembly extends through the apertures 5 and 10 in the ferrules of the bristle cartridges for releaseably mounting the composite bristle packet in the handle.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the bristle packet may take a variety of forms. The bristles in FIG. 5 are shown in section to illustrate that the bristles of a central reservoir cartridge 17 may be substantially shorter than the encircling bristles of the outer cartridges 1 to provide a paint reservoir 18 at the ends of the bristles of the central cartridge and within the encircling peripheral ring of longer bristles of the outer cartridges.

Furthermore, the bristles of the central cartridge may be of a substantially different nature than the bristles of the surrounding cartridges. For instance, the bristles of the central cartridge may be substantially coarser, that is, of a greater diameter than the surrounding bristles. They may be made of a different material, stiffer, or more loosely packed than the surrounding bristles. Additionally, the bristles of the central cartridge may have a substantially different cross section than the cross sectional configuration of the outer bristles. For instance, these central bristles may have the generally X- shaped cross section shown at 19 in FIG. 6 for holding more paint in the reservoir area of the brush and more readily dispensing the paint down the grooved sides of the bristles.

As illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, the cartridge ferrules may also take various configurations. As shown in these drawings, the use of a single outer ferrule 20 having annular inner and outer walls 21 and 22 is contemplated. The bristles 23 are adhered with an epoxy type adhesive 24 in an annular pattern in the space between the walls thereby leaving a central paint reservoir 25 defined in part by the inner wall of the ferrule and in part by the bristles. If desired, a central bristle cartridge such as 6 could be secured in the central opening in the ferrule by suitable means.

Referring again to FIGS. 4, and 7 it will be seen that one or more drip troughs 26 may be formed in the upper edge of ferrule receptacle portion 12 of the handle 13.

FIGS. 8-1 1 show still other examples of handle, bristle cartridge and ferrule construction. The handle 27 is comprised of two halves pivotally secured together at one edge of their ferrule receptacle portion 28 by a hinge 29. The bristle packet for the brush may be comprised of a pair of cartridges, one of which is shown at 30 in FIG. 8. The cartridges are maintained in the ferrule receptacle portion of the handle by flange 31 which extends over the top edge of the ferrules 32. The handle sections may be releaseably secured together by any suitable means, such as for example, detents 33.

When the handle 27 is closed, the cartridges engage one another to form a paint reservoir area 34 therebetween and the bevelled male flange 35 of one ferrule extends into a complementing female portion 36 of another ferrule as shown in FIG. 11 to block the seepage of paint into the lower portion of the handle.

If desired, the reservoir area 34 may have central reservoir bristles, such as cartridge 6 shown in FIG. 2, releaseably secured therein by suitable means.

An important aspect of this invention lies in the placement and securing of the bristles in the cartridge ferrule. The bristles, held at their upper ends, have their lower ends suspended in the ferrule and an epoxy type adhesive is placed in the ferrule around the bristles and allowed to set for permanently adhering the bristles therein. This construction provides relatively loosely packed bristles and more space around the individual bristles than conventional crimped type ferrules. This construction allows the bristles to hold more paint and dispenses that paint more readily to the painting surface than conventional brushes wherein the bristles are held in tightly packed frictional contact by a crimped metal ferrule.

It is understood that my invention is not confined to the particular construction or arrangement of parts herein illustrated and described for exemplification, but embraces all such modified forms thereof as come within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A paint brush comprising:

a. a pair of mating handle sections each having an integrally formed ferrule receptacle portion, each ferrule receptacle portion having a bottom wall integrally formed with a side wall and a pair of end walls,

b. a bristle packet comprising a pair of cartridges each having a ferrule seated against said walls in a ferrule receptacle portion of said handle section and a multitude of bristles permanently adhered in said ferrule, each of said ferrules having a recess formed therein by a side panel, end panels and a bottom panel, said ferrules having complementary male and female portions extending along the bottom edge of said ferrules below said bottom panels, the complementary male and female portions of said ferrules tightly engaging each other about said recesses to provide a paint reservoir therein,

c. each of said ferrule receptacle portions having an internal top flange engaging an upper edge of one of said ferrules for maintaining said ferrules within said ferrule receptacle portions, and

(1. means for drawing and releasably securing said handle sections together whereby said top flange and the walls of said ferrule receptacle portions encircle said ferrules and hold said ferrules in fluid tight mating relation with one another. 

1. A paint brush comprising: a. a pair of mating handle sections each having an integrally formed ferrule receptacle portion, each ferrule receptacle portion having a bottom wall integrally formed with a side wall and a pair of end walls, b. a bristle packet comprising a pair of cartridges each having a ferrule seated against said walls in a ferrule receptacle portion of said handle section and a multitude of bristles permanently adhered in said ferrule, each of said ferrules having a recess formed therein by a side panel, end panels and a bottom panel, said ferrules having complementary male and female portions extending along the bottom edge of said ferrules below said bottom panels, the complementary male and female portions of said fErrules tightly engaging each other about said recesses to provide a paint reservoir therein, c. each of said ferrule receptacle portions having an internal top flange engaging an upper edge of one of said ferrules for maintaining said ferrules within said ferrule receptacle portions, and d. means for drawing and releasably securing said handle sections together whereby said top flange and the walls of said ferrule receptacle portions encircle said ferrules and hold said ferrules in fluid tight mating relation with one another. 